RBL FinServe Limited’s (RFL) story began in 2005, when two friends’ vision to provide financial access to women from underserved communities in India was set in motion. Then known as Swadhaar, the organization started as a nonprofit offering micro-credits to small businesses in the slums of Mumbai. Years later, it grew and evolved into a Business Correspondent exclusive to RBL Bank, marking a new chapter under its official name.
Today, RFL has extended loans, savings products, and other financial services to thousands of low-income households and micro-entrepreneurs across the country — proving itself as a trusted partner in times of need.
The Problem: Outdated and Inefficient Board Meeting Processes
For RFL, meeting preparation is just as important and demanding as the meeting itself, sometimes even more so. This was a persistent concern before the introduction of board technology. As the team handled things traditionally, agendas and papers had to be collated and distributed manually. While the process worked at the time, it was clearly consuming valuable time and was fraught with risks.
“The secretarial team required a secure platform for sharing board agendas, which are confidential,” the team recalled. “[We also needed] a centralized repository where board members could access documents easily, and a system for meeting regulatory requirements.”
Instead of focusing on more important discussions and decisions, every meeting meant repeating the same logistical hurdles — printing, distributing, and managing documents while worrying about confidentiality. For an organization committed to efficiency and trust, this way of working simply wasn’t sustainable.
The Search for a Smart, Simple, and Secure Board Solution
It was in 2013 that RFL decided to make a change, and Convene board portal entered the picture. “When we first selected Convene, it met our requirements for a secure and user-friendly board portal,” the team explained.
Over the years, as directors grew comfortable with the platform and experienced its reliability firsthand, the idea of switching to another solution never came up. “As the application has provided a positive user experience, we have not explored alternative solutions,” the team said. Needless to say, Convene had earned its place at the table.
The Solution Driving a Decade of Smarter, More Secure Board Management
RFL needed a way to keep up with the demands of managing board meetings and activities without compromising security, and Convene easily delivered.
One Hub for Documents and Decisions
Before Convene, finding the latest version of a board document was cumbersome for the financial institution. Convene board portal brought order to the process by creating a centralized repository — a single source of truth where everything related to board meetings was stored. Directors could now access agenda packs and supporting materials at their convenience, without confusion or delay.
The shift away from paper was equally transformative. “Using Convene has reduced the time and cost associated with meeting preparations by eliminating the need for printed materials,” the team shared. No longer were stacks of paper, courier deliveries, or long hours of manual coordination required. With just a few clicks, documents were uploaded and instantly available, saving both time and resources.
Security at the Core
Security is non-negotiable for highly regulated industries such as finance. With Convene board portal, RFL found the confidence it was looking for. “At RFL, Convene is used for circulating agenda papers with its directors. It being a secure and user-friendly platform helps the users to access the data easily,” the team shared. Encrypted, role-based access ensures that only authorized members can view confidential materials, eliminating the risks of email distribution, and helping the organization meet strict regulatory requirements.
Moreover, Convene is backed by a CMMI Level 5 company, which underscores its commitment to the highest standard of quality and data protection.
Round-the-clock Support
Behind the technology, the organization also found reassurance in the people who support it. According to the team, “[They] have been consistently responsive and professional, promptly addressing any queries and providing assistance when needed.” From onboarding to ongoing queries, the responsiveness of the support team has helped ensure that all questions are answered and issues are resolved quickly. In the ten years they have worked together, this consistent support has yielded high returns in efficiency and trust, creating lasting value for both sides.
Why RBL FinServe Recommends Convene Board Portal
RBL Finserve’s journey with Convene has now spanned more than a decade, a testament to the trust and value the platform has provided the institution. In that time, the company has expanded its reach and deepened its mission of prioritizing the clients’ financial well-being above anything else.
Reflecting on their long-term partnership with Convene and the benefits they have reaped since day one, including saving time and money through digitized board meetings, the financial institution proudly stated, “Convene is a secure, user-friendly board management platform that streamlines meeting preparations, enhances collaboration and ensures data protection. […] We would recommend Convene to other organizations.”
Ready to go digital? Invest in a modern board management tool, and find out how it can help improve your organization’s workflows and digitize board governance. Request a Convene demo today.